Ron Capps qualifies 10th for Sunday's NHRA Finals outside Los Angeles

November 12

NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car driver Ron Capps secured the 10th-starting position for Sunday’s 47th-annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals here at Auto Club Raceway following a rain-shortened three rounds of qualifying.

Seventh-qualifier Jeff Arend will provide the first-round challenger for Capps when final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. PT.

The California native, sixth in the Countdown to the Championship standings as Sunday’s race unfolds, retains a mathematical chance for the title, trailing leader and Don Schumacher Racing teammate Matt Hagan by 83 points.

“I realized we have to both win the race and set a national (elapsed-time) record to have a chance at a championship, but it’s been done here before,” explained Capps, referring to Tony Schumacher’s record run in the final-round of the 2006 Top Fuel finals which secured a championship. “Our plan is to get to the final round tomorrow and see what develops. Tim Richards (crew chief) is more than capable of putting together that kind of effort and result.

“Our true focus is on winning this race and ending the season on a high note.”

Capps came into the season finale off a win, his second of the season in five final-round appearances, at the last race in Las Vegas. He banked a 4.124-second lap at 301.94 miles per hour in Thursday’s opening qualifying session to secure the 10th-starting spot.

“Under Tim’s leadership, my “NAPA Know How” guys have really turned things around in the latter part of the year,” he said. “I’m just so proud to drive for them and for everyone at NAPA who continues to provide us with great support wherever we race, wherever we appear. It’s an honor to wear their colors.”